Tall Tales Come to the West Coast with BIG FISH Premiere Tomorrow Night
By: BWW News Desk
Opening tomorrow -- Musical Theatre West (MTW) opens its 2014-2015 season, reeling in the West Coast premiere of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Big Fish, a new musical, October 31 through November 16. Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4. Tickets start at only $20!
On the heels of their 2014 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards nominations, Musical Theatre West lands two criticially acclaimed actors in the leading roles. Jeff Skowron, who earned two nominations for "Best Actor in a Musical" for his turn as Thenardier in Les Miserables and Leo Bloom in The Producers, takes on the role of Edward Bloom. Rebecca Johnson, who recently earned an Ovation nomination for her role as Elizabeth in MTW's Young Frankenstein, takes on the role of Sandra Bloom. (See attachment for full cast information.)
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed Columbia Pictures film directed by Tim Burton, the musical adaptation of Big Fish made a splash on Broadway last year when five-time Tony Award winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys) teamed with music and lyrics by Tony nominee Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, The Wild Party) to develop the new book by esteemed screenwriter John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Like the story itself, the critics were over the moon with praise. The New York Times hailed, "Spectacular. Big Fish has BIG production numbers and really BIG special effects." Musical Theatre West recreates the excitement of the original Broadway show, bringing to the West Coast premiere the original sets and costumes.
Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stagecraft, the musical Big Fish reminds us why we love going to the theatre -- for an experience that's richer, funnier and BIGGER than life itself. The story centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest... and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him -- most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales.
Musical Theatre West's production is under the direction of Larry Carpenter with Musical Direction by Matthew Smedal and chorgeography by Peggy Hickey. This production is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of 2014-2015 Honorary Season Producers the Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation, Ken & Dottie Reiner, and Don and Marlene Temple. Paul Garman serves as Executive Director/Producer for MTW.
Big Fish marks another big coup for MTW, as the first major producing company to be granted the rights to the acclaimed 2013 musical. Previous Broadway shows to have their regional premieres by MTW in recent years include Never Gonna Dance (2006); All Shook Up (2007); and Alter Boyz (2007).
Tickets are now on sale for West Coast Premiere of Big Fish, the new musical. For tickets or more information, go to www.musicals.org or call (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.
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